December 9, 2011

HIV Stigma Among Gay Men Remains Widespread

“Stigmatization of HIV-positive gay men appears to be extensive and wide-ranging.” That’s the conclusion of a recent review published in the journal AIDS Care. The review, which looked at English-language, peer-reviewed articles, revealed a growing division between HIV-positive and HIV-negative gay men, and it found a fragmentation of gay communities based along the lines of perceived or actual HIV status. The report noted that HIV stigma takes diverse forms and can incorporate aspects of social exclusion, ageism, rejection and violence as well as discrimination based on physical appearance and health status. The review was compiled with the hopes of better understanding HIV-related stigma and then finding ways to reduce it.

To read the AIDS Care article, click here.

Search: Stigma, Widespread, Gay

Scroll down to comment on this story.

Previous Comments:

Jack C, Terre Haute, IN, 2011-12-13 19:32:01
I have seen it going on for the 26 years I have been POZ. Yes there has been and still is a Stigma in the Gay and Str8 Communities.And Yes even on POZ.com. Equusursus and Jeton Your words ring so very true.

equusursus, , 2011-12-13 14:02:40
It stated here on POZ.com of studies done that say if you have adhered to a drug regimen for more than 10 years and you have remained undetectable, your chances of spreading HIV are next to nil. When I ask a (-) not one has known about PREP but will willingly BB if someone just tells them they are HIV-. If you are HIV+ well endowed, they just climb on for a try even after they are told of your HIV+ status. Those sign a release of liability form in my wallet. The HIV- guy needs education badly.

equusursus, , 2011-12-13 13:38:53
There's nothing like reading "UB2" when looking for a guy to spend some time. Sad, the "BEAR" associating gay man who doesn't want to appear like a man who deals smartly with his HIV status (those who eat healthy, take their meds regularly, see their doctors 4-6 times a year) but is not perfectly HWP, will put on 150 extra pounds becoming obese just to NOT LOOK like they might be POZ. They shorten their lives with Diabetes, Heart Disease and Stroke. Condoms would solve the intimacy problem.

Jeton Ademaj, Harlem, NYC, 2011-12-11 08:00:04
thanks for telling us that the Earth is round. one need only peruse the profiles of major gay internet sites these days (namely manhunt, adam4adam and grindr) to see the virulent bias many self-reportedly HIV- gay men feel for HIV+ men. once upon a time, it was darkly funny (yes, FUNNY) when one of the more stridently poz-phobic men would disappear from a site, then reappear under a new (and POZ) profile a year or so later. now, even that is ho-hum...but the bias continues to grow. shame indeed.